Sling bracket devices and methods of use with archery bow

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a bracket for use with an archery bow, including a main body having a length extending between a first end and a second end, at least one throughbore through which a portion of a sling can be positioned, at least one passageway intersecting the throughbore, and at least one securing element positionable through the passageway and into at least a portion of the throughbore, the securing element adapted to releasably secure the portion of the sling within the throughbore. The bracket can also include at least one vibration dampener.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A bracket for use with an archery bow, comprising:
 a main body having: 
 a length extending between a first end and a second end, the first and second ends having a main body diameter and shape, 
 at least one throughbore through which a portion of a sling can be positioned, 
 at least one passageway intersecting the throughbore, and 
 at least one securing element including a shaft portion positionable through the passageway and into at least a portion of the throughbore and a handle portion having a diameter and shape substantially equal to the main body diameter and shape, the securing element adapted to releasably secure the portion of the sling within the throughbore. 
 
     
     
       2. The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the main body includes a second throughbore through which a second portion of the sling can be positioned, a second passageway intersecting the throughbore, and a second securing element positionable through the second passageway and into at least a portion of the second throughbore, the second securing element adapted to releasably secure the second portion of the sling within the second throughbore. 
     
     
       3. The bracket of  claim 2 , wherein both the first and second securing elements include threaded shaft portions and the first and second passageways each includes a matching thread which accepts the thread of the respective first and second shaft portions such that the first and second securing elements are hand-adjustable, each of the first and second securing elements includes a handle portion extending from the shaft portion, the first passageway extends from the first end of the main body, along a longitudinal axis of the main body, and to the first throughbore, the first throughbore extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the handle portion of the first securing element is positioned adjacent the first end of the main body from which the first passageway extends, and the second passageway extends from the second end of the main body, along the longitudinal axis of the main body, and to the second throughbore, the second throughbore extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the handle portion of the second securing element is positioned adjacent the second end of the main body from which the second passageway extends. 
     
     
       4. The bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the threaded shaft portion and handle portion of the securing elements are positioned co-axial with the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       5. The bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the handle portions have a diameter and shape substantially equal to the main body diameter and shape. 
     
     
       6. The bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising a connection element adapted to secure the bracket to a position on the bow. 
     
     
       7. The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft portion of the securing element is threaded and the passageway includes a matching thread which accepts the threaded shaft portion such that the securing element is hand-adjustable. 
     
     
       8. The bracket of  claim 7 , wherein the throughbore is positioned transverse to the length of the main body. 
     
     
       9. The bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the passageway extends from one of the first or second ends of the main body, along a longitudinal axis of the main body, and to the throughbore. 
     
     
       10. The bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the throughbore extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       11. The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway extends from one of the first or second ends of the main body, along a longitudinal axis of the main body, and to the throughbore, the throughbore extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the handle portion is positioned adjacent the first or second end of the main body from which the passageway extends. 
     
     
       12. The bracket of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft portion and handle portion of the securing element are positioned co-axial with the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       13. The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the handle portion is larger than the diameter of the passageway, such that the handle portion remains outside the passageway. 
     
     
       14. The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the securing element is selectively adjustable without the use of a tool, to releasably secure the portion of the sling within the throughbore. 
     
     
       15. A bracket for use with an archery bow, comprising:
 a main body having: 
 a length extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, 
 a first throughbore and a second throughbore, positioned transverse to the axis, through which a first portion and a second portion of a sling, respectively, can be positioned, 
 first passageway intersecting the first throughbore and a second passageway intersecting the second throughbore, and 
 a first securing element and a second securing element each including a shaft portion and a handle portion, each shaft portion being positionable through the first and second passageways within at least a portion of the first and second throughbores, respectively, and each handle portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the particular passageway, wherein each securing element is adjustable to releasably secure the first and second portions of the sling, wherein the first and second securing elements are adjusted via the handle portion to releasably secure the sling portions without the use of a tool. 
 
     
     
       16. The bracket of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one vibration dampener. 
     
     
       17. The bracket of  claim 16 , wherein a first vibration dampener is positioned at the first end of the main body and a second vibration dampener is positioned at the second end of the main body. 
     
     
       18. The bracket of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second vibration dampeners are positioned to dampen forces occurring perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       19. The bracket of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second vibration dampeners are positioned substantially within the volume of the main body and at the respective first and second ends. 
     
     
       20. A method of hand-adjusting a sling on an archery bow, comprising the steps of
 connecting a bracket to the bow, the bracket comprising a main body having a length extending between a first end and a second end, the first and second ends having a main body diameter and shape a first throughbore through which a first portion of the sling can be positioned, a second throughbore through which a second portion of the sling can be positioned, a first securing element in communication with at least a portion of the first throughbore, and a second securing element in communication with at least a portion of the second throughbore, each of the first and second securing elements including a shaft portion and a handle portion, the shaft portion being positioned at least partially into one of the throughbores to releasably secure one of the sling portions, and the handle portion having a diameter and shape substantially equal to the main body diameter and shape such that the securing elements are hand-adjustable; 
 positioning the sling through the first and second throughbores; 
 hand-adjusting the first and second securing elements to releasably secure the first and second portions of the sling within the respective first and second throughbores; 
 using the bow to fire an arrow to determine whether the sling is in a desired position; 
 hand-adjusting one of the first and second securing elements to release one of the first and second portions of the sling; 
 re-positioning the sling through one of the first and second throughbores such that a third portion of the sling is positioned within the one of the first and second throughbroes; and 
 hand-adjusting the one of the first and second securing elements to releasably secure the third portion of the sling within the one of the first and second throughbores.